A survey to determine agreement regarding the definition of centric relation.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The definition of centric relation (CR) has been both controversial and divisive, with little consensus.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether agreement can be reached on a definition for CR among the Fellows of the Academy of Prosthodontics, the organization that writes the Glossary of Prosthodontic Terms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey of the Fellows of the Academy of Prosthodontics was conducted at the organization's annual business meeting.

RESULTS: Of the 83 eligible Fellows in attendance, 72 responded to the survey, a response rate of 86%. Of those, the 5 responders who did not indicate a preferred definition and the 2 that chose 2 definitions were censored, yielding an analyzable sample of 65 for the definitions. The most common definition received 19 votes, the next 16, and the third 13, with the other 6 definitions receiving from 2 to 5 votes. Some of the variability in definition depended on the era of training.

CONCLUSIONS: Disagreement and confusion continues regarding the definition of centric relation. Some of this disagreement can be explained by training era.